The rain had stopped, and Alex chose to keep his mouth shut instead of asking all kinds of questions that Nada didn't know the answers to. He let the woman think clearly about what had happened a few minutes ago.
"Well, I'd better go home."
"Going home? Why not stay here a little longer? Maybe you could be here for a few more minutes."
"No, I have coursework to finish. And I think I've wasted a lot of time on you."
Nada heard what he say, immediately nodded her head. She was quite aware that Alex had contributed time to her, she realized that Alex had helped her solve all the strange problems that were starting to creep up in her life.
"Okay, you better watch out. The stairs are still there, right?" She said, a little worried for Alex because surely her backyard could accommodate puddles of water. After all, the drains in her house were often clogged.
Alex smiled, he also looked at Nada worriedly. But before he fell into her charm, he preferred to shake his head. "Still. Later when you dare to tell me, contact me immediately with what happened to you."
Tin
Tin
(honking sound)
Before Nada could reply to Alex's words, a car horn sounded from outside the house. "That's my father, already home." She muttered. "Ah fine, I'll tell you later. Don't be mad at me after that, but promise me first." She continued, now holding out her hand with her pinky pointing directly in front of Alex.
Of course, Alex raised an eyebrow. "It's like a kid's deal, Nada," he commented.
"It doesn't matter, the important thing is to keep your promise as an adult."
"Agree."
In the end, Alex decided to leave Nada's house through the same exit as the entrance --but in this context, he passed through the backyard--. He was trying his best not to be caught by Nada's father who had just come home from work, he might have been caught intruding into Nada's room, where it was clear that the woman was being punished by her mother.
As for Nada? She sat back in the corner of the room, hugging herself. Not infrequently since the spooky incident a few minutes ago, she began to look in the mirror several times to check whether there was a figure in question or not. But now, it looks safe and peaceful.
Nada gave her peace.
"Huh, sorry I forgot something"
And yes, along with that baritone voice, Nada's body jumped in surprise and immediately turned to the source of the sound. She looked at Alex who was now in her room again, grinning strangely.
"Why? What did you forget?" Nada reflexively got up from her seat, she walked towards Alex with a confused face. She intends to help if anyone is left behind.
Alex smiled. Then with a sudden movement, he immediately hugged Nada's body very gently and full of warmth.
Nada blinked her eyes, then felt the air around her begin to thin out.
"If there is a problem, please let me know. Don't be kept alone, I will help you until all the problems are solved."
Is there anything interfering with Alex's brain performance? Why did he sound so… sweet right now?
Nada didn't return Alex's hug, she sighed. Her body felt stiff. This was the first time a man had embraced her with such genuine warmth other than her father.
"Okay fine, I think you have calmed down. I'm home, see you. Do your homework too, tomorrow if there is a chance, I will take you to campus."
In the final touch, Alex kissed Nada's forehead.
After that Alex decided to go back out of Nada's room through the stairs that she leaned on the balcony.
Nada smiled. "Be careful and don't let my mother find out."
"Of course." Alex replied while giving an 'okay' sign with his thumb which he raised in the air.
Nada was just about to turn around and walk to sit in the corner of the room, but suddenly there was a knock on the door. Making her turn to the source of the voice and see that there is a figure of her father she misses so much.
"DADDY?!!!"
Nada look so happy, and she ran toward her father with outstretched arms. Immediately hugged the body of a man with an athletic body that she missed.
"Why did it take so long to come home? I've missed you so much."
His name is Mike, Nada's father is a hard worker from a well-known company. Indeed, Nada's family was fairly wealthy, but she didn't expect his child to be in the wrong hands.
Mike smiled warmly back into Nada's arms, then kissed the top of his daughter's head lovingly. "How are you? Why did you lock yourself in your room alone? Your mother said you stopped eating. Did you two fight?"
Hearing Mike's words about Bela who gave out a thousand reasons, of course, the reasons were full of lies.
"Yes, I miss you and indirectly I even lost my appetite which usually likes to eat," Nada replied with a forced laugh, of course, if she had known when Bela was making excuses then she would have continued with her stepmother's composition.
Mike looked at his daughter worriedly, he was afraid something would happen to Nada. "Sorry if I just got home, my car is in service, and I have to wait for it," he said, wanting to loosen the hug, but was held back by Nada.
Nada held Mike's arm so as not to let go of the hug from her body. She seeks warmth and comfort and protection. Mike is the first and most important person she will love forever.
Mike felt something strange, he sighed to release the tightness lodged in his chest cavity.
"What's wrong, Nada? Is something wrong? Just tell your father this." He asked because he felt bad about this situation. The hunch was getting worse. "Your mother didn't treat you well—"
"No, Bela treats me very well," said Nada who immediately cut off Mike's speech which had not even been finished. "I just want to hug my daddy, my days are so hard."
Nada hugged Mike, buried her head in her father's chest. She swallowed all the suffering without Mike knowing. From the start, she didn't want to turn down Mike's second marriage with Bela because she wanted her father to be happy. But now, it turned out that she was suffering.
The atmosphere unites them, Mike, who feels he doesn't have much time for Nada. And Nada was only able to channel her sadness after she had hidden it for so long.
After this, Nada didn't want to be away from her father. She will surely be spared all forms of evil in the world. The 'creature' of course could not interfere, not to mention Bela who was also believed to be powerless to torture her.
"Will you be off work tomorrow?"
"Yes dear, what's wrong?"
"After class, I want to spend time alone with you."
"And your mother?"
"Can we just spend time alone like father and daughter?"
Yes, Nada felt that Mike had prioritized Bela too often. So, she will claim her dues for tomorrow, just a full day.
…
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